S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2688
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 26, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. J. M. GIGLIO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, the criminal procedure law and the
correction law, in relation to criminalizing the reckless transmission
of HIV/AIDS and to require testing for AIDS and HIV for certain
persons
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that HIV/AIDS
infection poses a serious threat to the public health of all New Yorkers
whenever HIV/AIDS infected persons act in a manner which is likely to
spread this horrible disease to other persons. When HIV/AIDS infected
persons commit such actions as having unprotected sex or sharing needles
without the consent of their partners, they endanger the public health
and frustrate the efforts of health officials to contain and, hopefully,
reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The legislature further finds that in order to allow the victims of
alleged sex crimes or crimes which endanger their health to obtain the
most effective health care treatment, the HIV status of their offenders
must be determined.
The legislature further finds that the increasing reports of acquired
immune deficiency syndrome, human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis
and hepatitis in state correctional facilities have reached an alarming
level. These incarcerated individuals and others who may have an undi-
agnosed case of any of these syndromes, diseases or viruses are extreme-
ly detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the correction offi-
cers and other staff who work in such facilities as well as incarcerated
individuals who are incarcerated therein. In order to maintain proper
security and working conditions, the legislature hereby declares that
all incarcerated individuals presently under confinement and all incar-
cerated individuals to be newly admitted to the department of
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02822-01-3
A. 2688 2
corrections and community supervision must be expeditiously tested for
such syndromes, diseases or viruses. The department of corrections and
community supervision shall take immediate action to care for afflicted
incarcerated individuals including separation from the general incarcer-
ated individual population in a special medical facility.
§ 2. Section 10.00 of the penal law is amended by adding two new
subdivisions 22 and 23 to read as follows:
22. "AIDS" MEANS ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME, AS MAY BE
DEFINED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL OF THE
UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.
23. "HIV INFECTION" MEANS INFECTION WITH THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY
VIRUS OR ANY OTHER RELATED VIRUS IDENTIFIED AS A PROBABLE CAUSATIVE
AGENT OF AIDS.
§ 3. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 70.25 of the
penal law, as amended by chapter 372 of the laws of 1981, is amended to
read as follows:
Except as provided in subdivisions two, two-a [and], five AND SIX of
this section, when multiple sentences of imprisonment are imposed on a
person at the same time, or when a person who is subject to any undisc-
harged term of imprisonment imposed at a previous time by a court of
this state is sentenced to an additional term of imprisonment, the
sentence or sentences imposed by the court shall run either concurrently
or consecutively with respect to each other and the undischarged term or
terms in such manner as the court directs at the time of sentence. If
the court does not specify the manner in which a sentence imposed by it
is to run, the sentence shall run as follows:
§ 4. Section 70.25 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision 6 to read as follows:
6. WHEN A PERSON IS CONVICTED OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH IN THE FIRST DEGREE, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 120.26 OF THIS CHAP-
TER, OR RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE SECOND DEGREE,
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 120.27 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE TERM OF IMPRISONMENT
WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED AS A SENTENCE UPON SUCH CONVICTION, SHALL RUN
CONSECUTIVELY TO ANY OTHER TERM OF IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED AS THE SENTENCE
UPON THE CONVICTION OF ANY OTHER OFFENSE COMMITTED THROUGH THE SAME ACT
OR OMISSION, OR THROUGH AN ACT OR OMISSION WITH ITSELF CONSTITUTED ONE
OF THE MATERIAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFENSE.
§ 5. The penal law is amended by adding four new sections 120.26,
120.27, 120.28 and 170.36 to read as follows:
§ 120.26 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN
THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE IS AWARE THAT HE OR SHE HAS TESTED POSI-
TIVELY FOR HIV/AIDS AND THEN RECKLESSLY ENGAGES IN CONDUCT WHICH RESULTS
IN THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS UNAWARE OF
SUCH CONDITION.
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE FIRST DEGREE IS A
CLASS B FELONY.
§ 120.27 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE SECOND
DEGREE.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN
THE SECOND DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE IS AWARE THAT HE OR SHE HAS TESTED
POSITIVELY FOR HIV/AIDS AND THEN RECKLESSLY ENGAGES IN CONDUCT WHICH
CREATES A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS TO ANOTHER
PERSON WHO WAS UNAWARE OF SUCH CONDITION.
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RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE SECOND DEGREE IS A
CLASS C FELONY.
§ 120.28 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH; DEFENSE.
IN ANY PROSECUTION UNDER SECTION 120.26 OR 120.27 OF THIS ARTICLE, IT
SHALL BE AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE THAT THE DEFENDANT, AT THE TIME SHE WAS
ENGAGED IN THE CONDUCT CONSTITUTING THE OFFENSE, WAS A WOMAN WHO TRANS-
MITTED THE HIV/AIDS VIRUS TO HER CHILD AS THE RESULT OF GIVING BIRTH TO
SUCH CHILD.
§ 170.36 OFFERING A FALSE INSTRUMENT WHICH ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF OFFERING A FALSE INSTRUMENT WHICH ENDANGERS THE
PUBLIC HEALTH WHEN HE OR SHE IS AWARE THAT HE OR SHE HAS TESTED POSITIVE
FOR HIV/AIDS AND THEN KNOWING THAT A WRITTEN INSTRUMENT CONTAINS A FALSE
STATEMENT OR FALSE INFORMATION REGARDING HIS OR HER HIV STATUS AND WITH
THE INTENT TO DEFRAUD THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ANY SUBDIVISION OR AGENT
THEREOF, OR ANY OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, HE OR SHE OFFERS OR PRESENTS
SUCH INSTRUMENT TO AN AGENT OF THAT OFFICE OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OR BELIEF THAT IT WILL BE FILED WITH, REGISTERED OR
RECORDED IN OR OTHERWISE BECOME A PART OF THE RECORDS OF SUCH PUBLIC
OFFICE OR PUBLIC SERVANT.
OFFERING A FALSE INSTRUMENT WHICH ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC HEALTH IS A
CLASS E FELONY.
§ 6. Section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law is amended by adding
two new subdivisions 46 and 47 to read as follows:
46. "HIV RELATED ILLNESS" MEANS ANY ILLNESS THAT MAY RESULT FROM OR
MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH HIV INFECTION.
47. "HIV RELATED TEST" MEANS ANY LABORATORY TEST OR SERIES OF TESTS
FOR ANY VIRUS, ANTIBODY, ANTIGEN OR ETIOLOGIC AGENT WHATSOEVER THOUGHT
TO CAUSE OR TO INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF AIDS.
§ 7. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section
160.46 to read as follows:
§ 160.46 HIV RELATED TESTING OF ALLEGED SEX AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFENDERS.
1. A POLICE OFFICER WHO MAKES AN ARREST FOR ANY CRIME SET FORTH IN
ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OR SECTION 120.26 OR 120.27 OF THE PENAL LAW,
EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT A WARRANT, SHALL, FOLLOWING SUCH ARREST OR THE
ARRAIGNMENT UPON A LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT OF A
DEFENDANT WHOSE COURT ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN SECURED BY A SUMMONS OR AN
APPEARANCE TICKET, CAUSE SUCH DEFENDANT TO BE IMMEDIATELY GIVEN AN HIV
RELATED TEST TO DETERMINE IF SUCH DEFENDANT HAS HIV INFECTION, HIV
RELATED ILLNESS OR AIDS.
2. THE HIV RELATED TEST PRESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION
AND THE SUBMISSION OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEFENDANT AND
THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRIME CHARGED MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CRIMI-
NAL JUSTICE SERVICES.
3. THE RESULT OF AN HIV RELATED TEST PERFORMED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
ONE OF THIS SECTION, SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE
VICTIM OR ALLEGED VICTIM OF SUCH CRIME AND TO THE DEFENDANT.
§ 8. Section 71 of the correction law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. (A) PERSONS WHO ARE COMMITTED, TRANSFERRED, CERTIFIED TO OR PLACED
IN THE CARE OR CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY TESTED FOR
EVIDENCE OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY
VIRUS, TUBERCULOSIS AND HEPATITIS AND MONITORED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF
DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH SYNDROMES, DISEASES OR VIRUSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PROPER MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
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(B) FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO GENERATE A POSITIVE RESULT, THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL PROVIDE, IN EACH FACILITY UNDER ITS CONTROL, THE INSTRUCTION OF
APPROPRIATE STAFF, INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
REGARDING THE NATURE OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME AND AIDS
RELATED COMPLEX (ARC), HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, TUBERCULOSIS AND
HEPATITIS, POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, AND STEPS WHICH MAY BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE
SUCH PROBLEMS.
§ 9. Section 141 of the correction law, as amended by chapter 322 of
the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
§ 141. Contagious disease in facility. 1. In case any pestilence or
contagious disease shall break out among the incarcerated individuals in
any of the correctional facilities, or in the vicinity of such facili-
ties, the commissioner [of correction] may cause the incarcerated indi-
viduals confined in such facility, or any of them, to be removed to some
suitable place of security, where such of them as may be sick shall
receive all necessary care and medical assistance; such incarcerated
individuals shall be returned as soon as may be feasible to the facility
from which they were taken, to be confined therein according to their
respective sentences.
2. TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY PESTILENCE OR CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, EVERY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE REGU-
LARLY ADMINISTERED A BLOOD TEST DESIGNED TO TEST FOR THE VIRAL AGENT
KNOWN AS HTLV-III/LAV WHICH CAUSES ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
AND A BLOOD TEST DESIGNED TO TEST FOR TUBERCULOSIS AND HEPATITIS. THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE
MONITORING, EDUCATION AND COUNSELING FOR THOSE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS
WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR THESE ILLNESSES.
§ 10. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 141-a to
read as follows:
§ 141-A. NOTIFICATION OF DISEASE SYMPTOMS. UPON THE DIAGNOSIS OF A
FACILITY HEALTH DIRECTOR OR ANY OTHER MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDER AUTHOR-
IZED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THAT AN
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL HAS SYMPTOMS OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY
SYNDROME, NOTICE OF THE DIAGNOSIS SHALL BE PROVIDED TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF
THE DEPARTMENT WHO CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE
SUPERVISION AND CARE OF SAID INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL.
§ 11. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law; provided however that
sections three, four and five of this act shall take effect on the first
of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a
law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of the provisions of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
within 180 days after the date on which this act shall have become a
law.